The defendant, who did not accept the end of the relationship and imposed a situation of subjugation and domination on the victim, has been found guilty of murder with the aggravating factor of gender. The jury has rejected the mitigating factors of psychic alteration, drug use, and confession requested by the defense.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested a sentence of 25 years in prison for the murder offense, in addition to 35 years of prohibition of approach and communication with Miguela's family members, and subsequent supervised release. The defendant admitted the facts during the trial, but this confession was not deemed sufficient for a sentence reduction.
The trial reconstructed how the aggressor exerted control over Miguela, even coercing her with photographs of their young children when he traveled to Italy. Miguela's eldest daughter, Leticia, had previously gone to the police station to report the situation her mother was enduring.
“"He threatened her with photos of us to make her come back, no matter what. He thought my mother was his"
On the night of the murder, Miguela received 45 stab wounds to various parts of her body. The Public Prosecutor's Office considers that treachery and cruelty were present, as the suffering of the victim was deliberately increased. Miguela managed to leave the residence and ask neighbors for help before dying.
Miguela Novas was the 49th victim of gender-based violence in Spain in 2023, leaving behind three daughters. After her murder, the family faced difficulties in obtaining official recognition as victims of gender violence, which prevented them from accessing aid. Furthermore, they were evicted from their home in January of this year due to a mortgage debt.
The Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking compensation totaling 438,500 euros for the victim's daughters and grandmother. Miguela Novas's murder led to the establishment of a crisis committee named after her by the City Council of Madrid to coordinate institutions and establish reparation measures after each femicide.
